74200 – Railway yard and track maintenance workers
Lead statement
Railway yard workers regulate yard traffic, couple and uncouple trains and perform related yard activities
Main duties
- Operate control panel switches from railway yard tower to set traffic signals and to activate train switches that regulate railway traffic in railway yards
- Operate car retarders, turntables and track switches to align locomotives and cars as required for coupling, uncoupling or servicing
- Switch cars according to instructions which indicate the location, disposition and number of cars
- Lubricate moving parts of railway cars and locomotives.
- Operate machines and equipment such as sleeper sliders, anchors, rail lifters, drag drills, drag diggers, rail saws and tie-bar cranes to lay, maintain, repair and align railway tracks to transfer, spread, level and tamp ballast around ties and rails and to clear snow from tracks
- Clean and make minor repairs to machines and equipment
- Patrol assigned track sections to identify and report damaged or broken track
- Perform other track maintenance duties as directed.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education is usually required.
- Experience as a railway labourer is required.
- Railway yard workers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
- On-the-job training is provided
Example job titles
yard trainman/woman · railway tank car servicer · locomotive servicer · railway car distributor · railway car lubricator · railway car oiler · railway car greaser · railway car lubricating specialist · yard switchman/woman - railway transport · yard worker - railway · locomotive maintenance attendant · trackman/woman - railway yard · railway trackman/woman · rail-aligner operator - railway · track-liner operator - railway · railway maintenance equipment operator · railway track maintenance equipment operator · railway track patroller · railway track inspector · railway line inspector · railway track repairer · maintenance of way employee - railway · track maintenance worker - railway · track repairman/woman - railway · track-maintenance-machine operator - railway · railway track maintenance worker
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $26.00 | $36.00 | $42.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $29.27 | $40.57 | $50.98 |
| Nova Scotia | $20.61 | $28.35 | $41.07 |
| New Brunswick | $27.88 | $34.00 | $42.00 |
| Quebec | $33.30 | $38.50 | $40.00 |
| Ontario | $28.85 | $37.00 | $40.00 |
| Manitoba | $23.90 | $35.00 | $41.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $26.52 | $34.19 | $44.41 |
| Alberta | $26.82 | $35.64 | $45.52 |
| British Columbia | $25.00 | $33.00 | $43.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.